Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Moka Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Moka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $931 in Moka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,586 in Moka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,242 in Moka, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 8% cheaper than Moka, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Moka are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Moka 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$6.46 MUR 304

-69.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$44.21 MUR 2,077

-58.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.74 MUR 317

10.98%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.65 MUR 124

-23.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.03 MUR 48.40

-17.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.60 MUR 28.35

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.16 MUR 101

-0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.70 MUR 127

32.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.40 MUR 65.9

17.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.70 MUR 32.66

124.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.29 MUR 60.6

-7.75%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.23 MUR 105

-13.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$10.13 MUR 476

59.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.17 MUR 290

-51.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$10.64 MUR 500

2.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.98 MUR 92.9

36.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.96 MUR 92.2

-40.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.44 MUR 67.7

17.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.73 MUR 128

-41.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.02 MUR 48.05

35.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.99 MUR 46.74

21.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.84 MUR 39.59

-20.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.47 MUR 22.01

19.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$5.87 MUR 276

-20.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.20 MUR 479

72.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.78 MUR 83.4

4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.67 MUR 78.5

97.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$1.05 MUR 49.26

-16.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$12.99 MUR 610

48.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$2.68 MUR 126

-49.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$2.64 MUR 124

-49.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$15.55 MUR 731

-47.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.38 MUR 64.9

-11.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$36.0K MUR 1.7M

-40.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$28.3K MUR 1.3M

-20.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.7 ฿2,378

$49.81 MUR 2,340

41.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.04 ฿472

$18.48 MUR 868

-24.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$26.86 MUR 1,262

-34.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$24.58 MUR 1,155

71.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.99 MUR 281

-1.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$154 MUR 7,218

100.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$4,002 MUR 188.0K

271.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$74.9 MUR 3,517

-25.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$36.58 MUR 1,718

-28.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$93.8 MUR 4,406

-11.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$56.0 MUR 2,629

25.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$524 MUR 24.6K

-17.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$329 MUR 15.5K

-27.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$936 MUR 44.0K

-12.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$703 MUR 33.1K

-27.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$677 MUR 31.8K

-14.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

-20.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Moka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $524 in Moka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Moka, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Moka. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $216 in Moka – so Moka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Moka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moka costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,396 in Moka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $154 in Moka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Moka – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Moka at $931. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $931 in Moka. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.